May 29

We Welcome fr. Thomas Condon, OP, our new Prior Provincial!

Our prayers and well wishes are with fr. Condon, OP as he begins his term as our new Prior Provincial.  Here is a short biography from “Dominican Life, USA”

Fr. Tom Condon, OP, is the pastor of St. Peter Church, Memphis, TN. He formerly served as student master for St. Martin Province of the Dominicans in San Antonio, TX. He was born in 1953 in Memphis, TN. Tom earned a BA in Psychology from Memphis State University (now University of Memphis) and a MS in Psychology from Murray State University (Kentucky)

Tom worked as a school psychologist before he entered novitiate in St. Martin Province in 1981 He professed final vows in 1985 and was ordained a Dominican priest in 1988.

He holds a Master of Divinity degree from Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology, Berkeley, CA and a MA in Theology from Graduate Theological Union. He also holds a D.Min in Preaching from Aquinas Institute of Theology.

Tom has ministered as a pastor at , St. Thomas More Parish/Tulane Catholic Center, New Orleans and served as the Student Master in St. Louis, 1993-2000. He also served as Director of St. Martin de Porres Shrine and Institute, Memphis.

A long time film student, Tom also publishes his reviews and film observations in the newsletter of St. Martin Province.

Writing for DomLife.org, he says, “I like to write with perspectives for the preacher, teacher, or pastoral minister in mind. Film is a powerful medium for expression which is accesible to just about everyone, especially with the easy availability of DVD’s, Videotapes, movie channels, etc. I think we as Dominicans should be open to looking at them critically, and not just for entertainment sake. “

 

Permanent link to this article: https://laydomsouth.org/torchoftruth/we-welcome-fr-thomas-condon-op-our-new-prior-provincial/

May 08

Under Our Lady’s Mantle

A reminder that today in the Order we celebrate the Blessed Virgin Mary as our patroness. The Dominicana blog has an article by Br. Henry Stephan, OP titled Under Our Lady’s Mantle with some readings that would make great meditations for this day.

Permanent link to this article: https://laydomsouth.org/torchoftruth/under-our-ladys-mantle/

May 05

Petition to Add Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati to the Liturgical Calendar

There is an online petition underway to present a petition to the USCCB for the Divine Worship Committee to add Bl. Pier Giorgio to the Liturgical Calendar. You can find the petition and sign it at change.org. In the words of the petition:

 

Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati was an incredible witness to Christ and a model of life lived to the fullest. He climbed mountains, fostered community among his friends, played pranks, fought against religious persecution, and constantly prayed and performed acts of charity. His piety was such that he would often sneak out of the house to attend all night Adoration with the Blessed Sacrament, but return home in time for breakfast with his family.

His devotion to helping the poor often led him to return home without his sweater or jacket, having given them to someone in need. When Pier Giorgio died at just 24 years old, the streets of Turin were lined with thousands of the poor of Turin whose lives were touched by him during his short life.

Given his witness to what can be accomplished when we make Christ the center of our lives, Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati is an important saint in our times, especially for the youth and laity, and those who fight for religious freedom. And so, the purpose of this petition is to ask the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, and the Divine Worship Committee to add a memorial feast with Proper for Pier Giorgio in the United States Liturgical Calendar, so that his devotion might be further spread and that by his veneration and through the aid of his intercession, we might come to better follow his example and strive to climb “to the heights” of Christian life.

This petition, upon completion, will be given to a bishop who will present our request to the Divine Worship Committee.

 

Permanent link to this article: https://laydomsouth.org/torchoftruth/petition-to-add-bl-pier-giorgio-frassati-to-the-liturgical-calendar/

May 02

Prayer for the Jubilee

With the Jubilee of the 800th year of the Order coming soon an official prayer has been released:

God, Father of mercy,

who called your servant Dominic de Guzman

to set out in faith

as an itinerant pilgrim and a preacher of grace,

as we prepare to celebrate the Jubilee of the Order

we ask you to pour again into us

the Spirit of the Risen Christ,

that we might faithfully and joyfully proclaim

the Gospel of peace,

through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Please visit the following links for more information, the prayer in various languages, graphic files for a bookmark.

Permanent link to this article: https://laydomsouth.org/torchoftruth/prayer-for-the-jubilee/

May 01

Fr Giuseppe Girotti, OP Beatified

girotti2Fr. Giuseppe Girotti, OP was beatified last Saturday the 26th of April at Duomo di Alba in Cuneo the city of his birth. He was a Scripture scholar who studied at the Angelicum and the Ecole Biblique under Servant of God Marie-Joseph Lagrange, OP. Later he taught Scriptures at the Dominican Theological Seminary of Turin and was an expert in Wisdom Literature and the Prophet Isaiah. After the Nazi occupation of Italy he worked to arrange hideouts and escape routes for Jews. He was arrested in August of 1944 and eventually taken to Dachau. Due to the conditions at the camp he became ill and died on Easter Sunday, April 1, 1945. In 1995 he was declared “Righteous Among the Nations” by the State of Israel.

Blessed Giuseppe Girotti pray for us.

More information can be found at SQPN, Wikipedia, and op.org.

Permanent link to this article: https://laydomsouth.org/torchoftruth/fr-giuseppe-girotti-op-beatified/

Mar 11

Yes–it may be Lent, but we still need to laugh!

After all, Dominicans are the Laughing Friars!Joke

Permanent link to this article: https://laydomsouth.org/torchoftruth/yes-it-may-be-lent-but-we-still-need-to-laugh/

Mar 04

Lenten Resources

On this Fat Tuesday here are some resources for your Lenten journey:

 

  1. Here are the Prayer Intentions for March:

    Respect for Women. That all cultures may respect the rights and dignity of women.

    Vocations. That many young people may accept the Lord’s invitation to consecrate their lives to proclaiming the Gospel.

  2. You can sign up for daily Lenten reflections from Fr. Robert Barron at: http://www.lentreflections.com
  3. Fr. Dwight Longenecker will be having a daily online Bible study of the Gospel of Mark at his blog: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/standingonmyhead/
  4. This Lent, Verbum is giving away a free book along with daily Gospel reflections delivered straight to your inbox! Sign up to study the Gospel readings each day, then read and share reflections with others. You can sign up and find more information at: https://www.logos.com/lentenjourney
  5. You may want to consider the suggestions found below. You can click on the image for a larger image or click here for a high res pdf version.

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Permanent link to this article: https://laydomsouth.org/torchoftruth/lenten-resources/

Feb 27

Novena for the Canonization of Archbishop Sheen

The blog of the Archbishop Fulton Sheen Foundation has announced that beginning today, Wednesday, February 26th until March 6th they are beginning a novena for the canonization of Archbishop Sheen. As Archbishop Sheen was a Dominican tertiary this seems like a wonderful exercise leading up to Lent. The prayer is the one for canonization which follows:

Heavenly Father, source of all holiness, You raise up within the Church in every age men and women who serve with heroic love and dedication. You have blessed Your Church through the life and ministry of Your faithful servant, Archbishop Fulton J Sheen. He has written and spoken well of Your Divine Son, Jesus Christ, and was a true instrument of the Holy Spirit in touching the hearts of countless people.

If it be according to Your Will, for the honor and glory of the Most Holy Trinity and for the salvation of souls, we ask You to move the Church to proclaim him a saint. We ask this prayer through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

IMPRIMATUR

+Most Reverend Daniel R. Jenky, C.S.C., Bishop of Peoria

Permanent link to this article: https://laydomsouth.org/torchoftruth/novena-for-the-canonization-of-archbishop-sheen/

Feb 25

Archbishop Di Noia, O.P. on the Mass

Here’s a great audio of Archbishop Di Noia, currently of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, on the mystery of the Mass. It is only about 13 minutes long and is a great meditation on the real meaning of mystery and what it means especially in terms of the Mass.

You can find it at the following link: http://subspla.sh/1lyQ5ij

Permanent link to this article: https://laydomsouth.org/torchoftruth/archbishop-di-noia-o-p-on-the-mass/

Feb 21

Lay Dominicans and Preaching

As part of the preparations for the upcoming 800th anniversary of the Order Brother Bruno Cadore, the Master of the Order has issued a letter about Dominican Laity and preaching. The letter, updated for American spelling, can be found below and the original can be found in pdf format at this link.

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://laydomsouth.org/torchoftruth/lay-dominicans-and-preaching/